Wednesday, March 14, 2007

It may be that when folks come across the not safe for work Susie Bright (NSFW) perusing pictures of naked women, they are amused by Susie's spunk and gumption. I very much doubt that such folks would have the same feelings about me, and I'm quite sure my bosses wouldn't. I'd get fired.You can complain about the closed-mindedness of my bosses, but I really don't think it is unreasonable, given that I have female students who would justifiably feel uncomfortable in conversation with me after I had reduced Suzy's blog and asked "What can I do for you?"

Get over it, Suzie. I'm sorry that some corporations see fit to censor you, but nothing stops folks from reading you elsewhere. Far from limiting the internet, the NSFW label allows the place to be more free-spirited. And helps me read it at work without losing my job.

6
comments:

susie seems to be forgetting something. mainly that, in using the internet at work, you are using the company's bandwith, servers and machine. most corporations have policies restricting internet usage to "business use only". it's not just surfing for porn or artistic, tasteful nudes that can get you fired. just surfing the net can get you fired.

in practice, it's only if you surf too much that you get in trouble. but people seem to forget that laws prohibiting censorship get murky when you try to apply them to private businesses and institutions. one's employers do have the right to restrict what you look at online while you're at work, using their equipment. when you are at home, or on your own machine, then they don't.

it's sort of like how a restuarant can ask you to leave if you start shouting "Fuck" at the top of your lungs.

BTW -- I do apologize if you followed the links to get to Susie's column at work -- the column I linked to mentions later that it contains some questionable images.

I don't agree with Susie's rant (or a lot of what I throw over on the Recommended... widget), but thought it was an interesting discussion.

I agree that NSFW is a courtesy that enables freedom. Without it, people would be afraid to follow any links, or those posting invalid material would be blamed for the consequences. The tag seems to be a good copromise.

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While we're here, my jaw dropped at CBS's advertising for their broadcasting all the NCAA games on the Web. "Stick in teh office? Go to CBS Sportsline and wathc the fames live!" I know that productivity drops from people checking scores and such on the first days of the tournament, but to advertise that people should use their company's bandwidth to stream video to their office PC's all afternoon Thursday and Friday afternoon? I'm seeing some negative consequences...

unfortuneately, they have the right to be prudes. just as one has the right to not be a prude. moreover, if one works with prudes, there is a good chance the company would get sued for sexual harrasment or creating a hostile work environment. not particularly fair, but that's the reality of it.